Officer Report 10/01049/D

Planning Report And Recommendations {{table:453595}} ### Considerations {{table:453592}} ### Written Representations ### Consultations {{table:453593}} {{table:453594}}

Officer's Report

The Site

The site represents the curtilage of the retail unit on the corner of The Promenade and Bay View Road in the heart of Port St. Mary. The premises currently operate as a post office and are in the process of being renovated to accommodate a Spar grocery store. Currently there is a post office purple sign above the corner unit on the Bay View Road and on the Promenade sides.

The building is a three storey Victorian building with vertically proportioned windows throughout but a modern shop front at ground floor level.

Planning Status

The site lies within an area designated as Tourist Accommodation on the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Order 1982. On the draft Southern Area Plan which was published on 23rd October, 2009 the site lies within an area of Mixed Use and is also within a proposed Conservation Area.

The Proposal

Proposed is the installation of Spar shop signage alongside the post office signage on the Bay View Road side where the post office sign is to be moved to the left, and on the central corner fascia. The signage is to be an aluminium panel with powder coating with the Spar logo and lettering in red and green.

Representations

Highways and Traffic Division and Port St. Mary Commissioners indicate that they do not oppose the application

Assessment

The proposal should be considered in respect of the following Strategic Plan policy: "Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they: a) are of a high standard of design and material and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed; b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and c) are located so as to not cause a highway safety hazard" (General Policy 6).

In this case the signage is not dissimilar to the existing post office signage. Whilst plastic coated and quite bright, the shopfront under which the signage is to be displayed is modern, the windows in the building are framed in plastic and the signage indicates the presence of a grocery shop which will be a useful addition to the village, to complement the facilities at the Co-op and newsagent's further into the village.

The sign is not to be illuminated.

Party Status

The local authority is, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (d), considered an "interested person" and as such should be afforded party status.

The Department of Transport Highways and Traffic Division is now part of the Department of Infrastructure of which the planning authority is part. As such, the Highways and Traffic Division cannot be afforded party status in this instance.

Recommendation

Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 20.08.2010 Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal

• : Notes attached to refusals

C 1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.

C 2.

This permission relates to the installation of signage as shown in drawings reference MW and the site and location plans all received on 14th July, 2010.

I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to the Senior Planning Officer.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : Signed : Senior Planning Officer